ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN FOR MAKE-TO-SPECIFICATION APPLICATION SOFTWARE

• US 20100138276A1
• Filed: 12/03/2008
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Muench, Manfred, Reinelt, Klaus, Bildmayer, Reiner, Gross-Boelting, Thomas, Lokowandt, Bernhard, Clemens, Achim
• Granted Patent: US 8,401,908 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing plan-driven procurement. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include The process components include an RFQ Processing process component, a Purchase Request Processing process component, a Purchase Order Processing process component, a Purchasing Contract Processing process component, a Supplier Invoice Processing process component, a Supply and Demand Matching process component, an External Procurement Trigger and Response process component, and a Customer Requirement Processing process component.

Claims

1. A computer program product comprising application software encoded on a tangible machine-readable information carrier, the application software being structured as process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, the software comprising:

a plurality of process components, each of the process components being a package of software implementing a respective and distinct business process, the plurality of process components including;

a purchase request processing process component that creates, changes, and processes purchase requests to locate appropriate external sources of supply;

a purchase order processing process component that creates and maintains purchase orders and purchase order confirmations;

a supplier invoice processing process component that manages and volume processes of supplier invoices, including exception handling and approval;

a supply and demand matching process component that manages all the tasks necessary to ensure that sufficient material receipt elements exist to cover material demand while taking available capacity into account;

a customer requirement processing process component that controls customer requirements in the supply chain;

a logistics execution control process component that creates, controls, and monitors the supply chain execution activities that are necessary for the fulfillment of an order on a macro-logistics level;

an external procurement trigger and response process component that manages all the tasks necessary for processing procurement planning and procurement release orders, and the interface to purchasing, accounting, supplier invoicing, outbound delivery, and the supplier from a supply planning and control perspective;

a production process component that executes production on the shop floor and comprises the preparation, execution, confirmation, and completion as well as the more general functions such as scheduling, and monitoring;

a site logistics processing process component that prepares, physically executes, and confirms logistics processes within a site;

an outbound delivery processing process component that manages and processes the outbound delivery requirements for shipping goods to a product recipient;

an inventory processing process component that manages inventory and records inventory changes;

an inbound delivery processing process component that manages and processes the inbound delivery requirements for received goods from a vendor;

a due item processing process component that collects, manages, and monitors trade receivables or payables and corresponding sales tax or withholding tax;

a payment processing process component that processes and manages all payments;

an accounting process component that represents all relevant business transactions for valuation and profitability analysis;

a customer quote processing process component that processes quotes to customers offering the delivery of goods according to specific terms;

a customer invoice processing process component that invoices customers for the delivery of goods or the provision of services;

a productions trigger and response process component that interfaces between planning and production; and

a sales order processing process component that processes customers'"'"' requests to the seller for the delivery of goods, on a specific date, for a specific quantity, and for a specific price; and

a plurality of service operations, each service operation being implemented for a respective process component, the operations comprising inbound and outbound operations, the outbound operation for a first process component being operable to send a message to a second process component of the plurality of process components, the second process component having an inbound operation for receiving the message, the passing of messages between an inbound and an outbound operation defining a message-based pair-wise interaction between the respective process components of the respective operations, the pair-wise interactions between pairs of the process components including interactions between;

the external procurement trigger and response process component and the purchase request processing process component;

the purchase order processing process component and the accounting process component;

the purchase order processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component;

the purchase order processing process component and a sales order processing at supplier process component;

the purchase order processing process component and the external procurement trigger and response process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the accounting process component;

the inbound delivery processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component;

the inventory processing process component and the supply and demand matching process component;

the customer quote processing process component and the customer requirement processing process component;

the sales order processing process component and the customer requirement processing process component;

the logistics execution control process component and the outbound delivery processing process component;

the logistics execution control process component and the inbound delivery processing process component;

the production trigger and response process component and the production process component;

the production process component and the accounting process component;

the site logistics processing process component and the accounting process component;

the outbound delivery processing process component and the customer invoice processing process component;

the inventory processing process component and the accounting process component;

the customer quote processing process component and the due item processing process component;

the sales order processing process component and the accounting process component;

the purchase order processing process component and a sales order processing at supplier process component;

the customer quote processing process component and a RFQ processing at customer process component;

the payment processing process component and a payment order processing at house bank process component;

the customer invoice processing process component and a supplier invoice processing at customer process component;

the payment processing process component and a payment processing at business partner process component;

the sales order processing process component and the due item processing process component;

the sales order processing process component and the customer invoice processing process component;

the payment processing process component and the due item processing process component;

the customer invoice processing process component and the accounting process component; and

the site logistics processing process component and the supply and demand matching process component.

2. The product of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of process components further includes;

an RFQ processing process component that requests for quotes and supplier quotes for strategic as well as operational negotiation purposes;

a purchase contract processing process component that creates and maintains purchasing contracts;

a production and site logistic auxiliaries processing process component that supports functionality valid for multiple process components in the deployment unit production and site logistics execution;

a freight documents processing process component that processes freight-related documents for shipping purposes;

a balance of foreign payment management process component that collects processes, and reports receivables and payables according to foreign trade regulations that are required by the financial authority of a country, such as the central bank; and

a financial accounting master data management process component that manages financial accounting master data that is used both for accounting and costing purposes; and

the pair-wise interactions between pairs of the process components further include interactions between;

the outbound delivery processing process component and an inbound delivery processing a customer process component;

the customer invoice processing process component and the balance of foreign payment management process component;

the customer quote processing process component and the financial accounting master data management process component;

the purchase request processing process component and the RFQ processing process component;

the sales order processing process component and the financial accounting master data management process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the balance of foreign payment management process component;

the bank statement creation at bank process component and the payment processing process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the customer invoice processing at supplier process component;

the freight documents processing process component and a transportation management at freight forwarder process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and a supplier invoice verification exception resolution at processor process component;

the RFQ processing process component and a opportunity/customer quote processing at supplier process component;

an outbound delivery processing at supplier process component and the inbound delivery processing process component;

the customer invoice processing process component and a supplier invoice processing process component; and

the RFQ processing process component and the purchase order processing process component.

3. The product of claim 1, wherein:

each of the plurality of process components is assigned to exactly one deployment unit among multiple deployment units, and each deployment unit is deployable on a separate computer hardware platform independent of every other deployment unit; and

all interaction between a process component in one deployment unit and any other process component in any other deployment unit takes place through the respective service interfaces of the two process components.

4. The product of claim 3, wherein the deployment units comprise:

a strategic sourcing deployment unit that includes an RFQ processing process component;

a purchase deployment unit that includes the purchase request processing process component, the purchase order processing process component, and a purchase contract processing process component;

a supplier invoicing deployment unit that includes the supplier invoice processing process component;

a supply chain control deployment unit that includes the supply and demand matching process component, the customer requirement processing process component, the logistics execution control process component, the external procurement trigger and response process component, and the production trigger and response process component;

a production and site logistics execution deployment unit that includes the production process component, the site logistics processing process component, the outbound delivery processing process component, the inventory processing process component, the inbound delivery process component, a production and site logistics auxiliaries processing process component, and a freight document processing process component;

a financials deployment unit that includes a balance of foreign payment management process component, the due item processing process component, the accounting process component, a financials accounting master data management process component, and the payment processing process component;

a customer invoicing deployment unit that includes the customer invoice processing process component; and

a customer relationship management deployment unit that includes the customer quote processing process component and the sales order processing process component.

5. The product of claim 1, wherein:

each of the process components includes one or more business objects; and

none of the business objects of any one of the process components interacts directly with any of the business objects included in any of the other process components.

6. The product of claim 5, wherein the business objects comprise a business process object.

7. The product of claim 5, wherein none of the business objects included in any one of the process components is included in any of the other process components.

8. The product of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of process agents, each process agent being either an inbound process agent or an outbound process agent, an inbound process agent being operable to receive a message from an inbound operation, an outbound process agent being operable to cause an outbound operation to send a message, each process agent being associated with exactly one process component.

9. The product of claim 8, wherein the inbound process agents comprise a first inbound process agent operable to start the execution of a business process step requested in a first inbound message by creating or updating one or more business object instances.

10. The product of claim 8, wherein the outbound process agents comprise a first asynchronous outbound process agent that is called after a business object that is associated with the first outbound process agent changes.

11. The product of claim 1, wherein the operations comprise synchronous and asynchronous operations.

12. A system, comprising:

a computer system comprising one or more hardware platforms for executing a computer software application;

a plurality of process components, each of the process components being a package of software implementing a respective and distinct business process, the plurality of process components including;

a purchase request processing process component that creates, changes, and processes purchase requests to locate appropriate external sources of supply;

a purchase order processing process component that creates and maintains purchase orders and purchase order confirmations;

a supplier invoice processing process component that manages and volume processes of supplier invoices, including exception handling and approval;

a supply and demand matching process component that manages all the tasks necessary to ensure that sufficient material receipt elements exist to cover material demand while taking available capacity into account;

a customer requirement processing process component that controls customer requirements in the supply chain;

a logistics execution control process component that creates, controls, and monitors the supply chain execution activities that are necessary for the fulfillment of an order on a macro-logistics level;

an external procurement trigger and response process component that manages all the tasks necessary for processing procurement planning and procurement release orders, and the interface to purchasing, accounting, supplier invoicing, outbound delivery, and the supplier from a supply planning and control perspective;

a production process component that executes production on the shop floor and comprises the preparation, execution, confirmation, and completion as well as the more general functions such as scheduling, and monitoring;

a site logistics processing process component that prepares, physically executes, and confirms logistics processes within a site;

an outbound delivery processing process component that manages and processes the outbound delivery requirements for shipping goods to a product recipient;

an inventory processing process component that manages inventory and records inventory changes;

an inbound delivery processing process component that manages and processes the inbound delivery requirements for received goods from a vendor;

a due item processing process component that collects, manages, and monitors trade receivables or payables and corresponding sales tax or withholding tax;

a payment processing process component that processes and manages all payments;

an accounting process component that represents all relevant business transactions for valuation and profitability analysis;

a customer quote processing process component that processes quotes to customers offering the delivery of goods according to specific terms;

a customer invoice processing process component that invoices customers for the delivery of goods or the provision of services;

a productions trigger and response process component that interfaces between planning and production; and

a sales order processing process component that processes customers'"'"' requests to the seller for the delivery of goods, on a specific date, for a specific quantity, and for a specific price; and

a plurality of service operations, each service operation being implemented for a respective process component, the operations comprising inbound and outbound operations, the outbound operation for a first process component being operable to send a message to a second process component of the plurality of process components, the second process component having an inbound operation for receiving the message, the passing of messages between an inbound and an outbound operation defining a message-based pair-wise interaction between the respective process components of the respective operations, the pair-wise interactions between pairs of the process components including interactions between;

the external procurement trigger and response process component and the purchase request processing process component;

the purchase order processing process component and the accounting process component;

the purchase order processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component;

the purchase order processing process component and a sales order processing at supplier process component;

the purchase order processing process component and the external procurement trigger and response process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the accounting process component;

the inbound delivery processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component;

the inventory processing process component and the supply and demand matching process component;

the customer quote processing process component and the customer requirement processing process component;

the sales order processing process component and the customer requirement processing process component;

the logistics execution control process component and the outbound delivery processing process component;

the logistics execution control process component and the inbound delivery processing process component;

the production trigger and response process component and the production process component;

the production process component and the accounting process component;

the site logistics processing process component and the accounting process component;

the outbound delivery processing process component and the customer invoice processing process component;

the inventory processing process component and the accounting process component;

the customer quote processing process component and the due item processing process component;

the sales order processing process component and the accounting process component;

the purchase order processing process component and a sales order processing at supplier process component;

the customer quote processing process component and a RFQ processing at customer process component;

the payment processing process component and a payment order processing at house bank process component;

the customer invoice processing process component and a supplier invoice processing at customer process component;

the payment processing process component and a payment processing at business partner process component;

the sales order processing process component and the due item processing process component;

the sales order processing process component and the customer invoice processing process component;

the payment processing process component and the due item processing process component;

the customer invoice processing process component and the accounting process component; and

the site logistics processing process component and the supply and demand matching process component.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the plurality of process components further includes;

an RFQ processing process component that requests for quotes and supplier quotes for strategic as well as operational negotiation purposes;

a purchase contract processing process component that creates and maintains purchasing contracts;

a production and site logistic auxiliaries processing process component that supports functionality valid for multiple process components in the deployment unit production and site logistics execution;

a freight documents processing process component that processes freight-related documents for shipping purposes;

a balance of foreign payment management process component that collects processes, and reports receivables and payables according to foreign trade regulations that are required by the financial authority of a country, such as the central bank; and

a financial accounting master data management process component that manages financial accounting master data that is used both for accounting and costing purposes; and

the pair-wise interactions between pairs of the process components include interactions between;

the outbound delivery processing process component and an inbound delivery processing a customer process component;

the customer invoice processing process component and the balance of foreign payment management process component;

the customer quote processing process component and the financial accounting master data management process component;

the purchase request processing process component and the RFQ processing process component;

the sales order processing process component and the financial accounting master data management process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the balance of foreign payment management process component;

the bank statement creation at bank process component and the payment processing process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the customer invoice processing at supplier process component;

the freight documents processing process component and a transportation management at freight forwarder process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and a supplier invoice verification exception resolution at processor process component;

the RFQ processing process component and a opportunity/customer quote processing at supplier process component;

an outbound delivery processing at supplier process component and the inbound delivery processing process component;

the customer invoice processing process component and a supplier invoice processing process component; and

the RFQ processing process component and the purchase order processing process component.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein:

each of the process components includes one or more business objects; and

none of the business objects of any one of the process components interacts directly with any of the business objects included in any of the other process components.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein none of the business objects included in any one of the process components is included in any of the other process components.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein a plurality of process agents, each process agent being either an inbound process agent or an outbound process agent, an inbound process agent being operable to receive a message from an inbound operation, an outbound process agent being operable to cause an outbound operation to send a message, each process agent being associated with exactly one process component.

17. The system of claim 12, the system comprising multiple hardware platforms, wherein:

an RFQ processing process component is deployed on a first hardware platform;

the purchase request processing process component, the purchase order processing process component, and a purchase contract processing process component are deployed on a second hardware platform;

the supplier invoice processing process component is deployed on a third hardware platform;

the supply and demand matching process component, the customer requirement processing process component, the logistics execution control process component, the external procurement trigger and response process component, and the production trigger and response process component are deployed on a fourth hardware platform;

the production process component, the site logistics processing process component, the outbound delivery processing process component, the inventory processing process component, he inbound delivery process component, a production and site logistics auxiliaries processing process component, and a freight document processing process component are deployed on a fifth hardware platform;

a balance of foreign payment management process component, the due item processing process component, the accounting process component, a financials accounting master data management process component, and the payment processing process component are deployed on a sixth hardware platform;

the customer invoice processing process component is deployed on a seventh hardware platform; and

the customer quote processing process component and the sales order processing process component are deployed on an eighth hardware platform.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein each of the first through the eighth hardware platforms are distinct and separate from each other.

19. A method for developing a computer software application, comprising:

obtaining in a computer system digital data representing an architectural design for a set of processes implementing an end-to-end application process, the design specifying a process component for each process in the set of processes, the design specifying further specifying a set of process component interactions, wherein;

the specified process components include;

a purchase request processing process component that creates, changes, and processes purchase requests to locate appropriate external sources of supply;

a purchase order processing process component that creates and maintains purchase orders and purchase order confirmations;

a supplier invoice processing process component that manages and volume processes of supplier invoices, including exception handling and approval;

a supply and demand matching process component that manages all the tasks necessary to ensure that sufficient material receipt elements exist to cover material demand while taking available capacity into account;

a customer requirement processing process component that controls customer requirements in the supply chain;

a logistics execution control process component that creates, controls, and monitors the supply chain execution activities that are necessary for the fulfillment of an order on a macro-logistics level;

an external procurement trigger and response process component that manages all the tasks necessary for processing procurement planning and procurement release orders, and the interface to purchasing, accounting, supplier invoicing, outbound delivery, and the supplier from a supply planning and control perspective;

a production process component that executes production on the shop floor and comprises the preparation, execution, confirmation, and completion as well as the more general functions such as scheduling, and monitoring;

a site logistics processing process component that prepares, physically executes, and confirms logistics processes within a site;

an outbound delivery processing process component that manages and processes the outbound delivery requirements for shipping goods to a product recipient;

an inventory processing process component that manages inventory and records inventory changes;

an inbound delivery processing process component that manages and processes the inbound delivery requirements for received goods from a vendor;

a due item processing process component that collects, manages, and monitors trade receivables or payables and corresponding sales tax or withholding tax;

a payment processing process component that processes and manages all payments;

an accounting process component that represents all relevant business transactions for valuation and profitability analysis;

a customer quote processing process component that processes quotes to customers offering the delivery of goods according to specific terms;

a customer invoice processing process component that invoices customers for the delivery of goods or the provision of services;

a productions trigger and response process component that interfaces between planning and production; and

a sales order processing process component that processes customers'"'"' requests to the seller for the delivery of goods, on a specific date, for a specific quantity, and for a specific price; and

the process component interactions include interactions between;

the external procurement trigger and response process component and the purchase request processing process component;

the purchase order processing process component and the accounting process component;

the purchase order processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component;

the purchase order processing process component and a sales order processing at supplier process component;

the purchase order processing process component and the external procurement trigger and response process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the accounting process component;

the inbound delivery processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component;

the inventory processing process component and the supply and demand matching process component;

the customer quote processing process component and the customer requirement processing process component;

the sales order processing process component and the customer requirement processing process component;

the logistics execution control process component and the outbound delivery processing process component;

the logistics execution control process component and the inbound delivery processing process component;

the production trigger and response process component and the production process component;

the production process component and the accounting process component;

the site logistics processing process component and the accounting process component;

the outbound delivery processing process component and the customer invoice processing process component;

the inventory processing process component and the accounting process component;

the customer quote processing process component and the due item processing process component;

the sales order processing process component and the accounting process component;

the purchase order processing process component and a sales order processing at supplier process component;

the customer quote processing process component and a RFQ processing at customer process component;

the payment processing process component and a payment order processing at house bank process component;

the customer invoice processing process component and a supplier invoice processing at customer process component;

the payment processing process component and a payment processing at business partner process component;

the sales order processing process component and the due item processing process component;

the sales order processing process component and the customer invoice processing process component;

the payment processing process component and the due item processing process component;

the customer invoice processing process component and the accounting process component; and

the site logistics processing process component and the supply and demand matching process component.; and

using the design including the specified process components and the specified process component interactions to develop a computer software application to perform the set of processes.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the specified process components further include;

an RFQ processing process component that requests for quotes and supplier quotes for strategic as well as operational negotiation purposes;

a purchase contract processing process component that creates and maintains purchasing contracts;

a production and site logistic auxiliaries processing process component that supports functionality valid for multiple process components in the deployment unit production and site logistics execution;

a freight documents processing process component that processes freight-related documents for shipping purposes;

a balance of foreign payment management process component that collects processes, and reports receivables and payables according to foreign trade regulations that are required by the financial authority of a country, such as the central bank; and

a financial accounting master data management process component that manages financial accounting master data that is used both for accounting and costing purposes; and

the process component interactions further include interactions between;

the outbound delivery processing process component and an inbound delivery processing a customer process component;

the customer invoice processing process component and the balance of foreign payment management process component;

the customer quote processing process component and the financial accounting master data management process component;

the purchase request processing process component and the RFQ processing process component;

the sales order processing process component and the financial accounting master data management process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the balance of foreign payment management process component;

the bank statement creation at bank process component and the payment processing process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the customer invoice processing at supplier process component;

the freight documents processing process component and a transportation management at freight forwarder process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and a supplier invoice verification exception resolution at processor process component;

the RFQ processing process component and a opportunity/customer quote processing at supplier process component;

an outbound delivery processing at supplier process component and the inbound delivery processing process component;

the customer invoice processing process component and a supplier invoice processing process component; and

the RFQ processing process component and the purchase order processing process component.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein each process in the set of processes is a business process transforming a defined business input into a defined business outcome.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein obtaining digital data representing the architectural design further comprises editing the design before using the design.